World Security Report News2017-07-06 14:03:18

An EU Special committee has been appointed to tackle deficiencies in the fight against terrorism

The committee will examine counter-terrorism measures, shortcomings in cross-border judicial cooperation and information-sharing and measures impact on fundamental rights

MEPs approved setting up a 12-month special committee to address the practical and legislative deficiencies in the fight against terrorism across the EU.

The special committee will examine and evaluate the extent of the terrorist threat on European soil and look into any potential faults and malfunctions which might have allowed recent terrorist attacks in member states to occur.

The committee is in particular charged with looking into:

• The implementation of existing measures in the field of external border management

• Deficiencies in sharing judicial, law enforcement and intelligence information among member states

• The interoperability of European information-sharing databases

• The impact of EU anti-terror laws on fundamental rights

• Radicalisation and the effectiveness of de-radicalisation programmes

• Money laundering and terrorism financing, including its links to organised crime

• Best practice with regard to the protection of soft targets and critical infrastructure, such as airports and train stations

30 MEPs will sit on the special committee and its mandate will run for 12 months, which can be prolonged, starting from the date of its constitutive meeting. The committee is to deliver a mid-term and a final report containing factual findings and recommendations.

The committee will make visits and hold hearings with other EU institutions, the relevant agencies, national parliaments and governments of member states and non-EU countries, law enforcement agencies, intelligence services, judges and magistrates as well as victims’ organisations. Due to the sensitive nature of the information being handled, it is expected that some meetings might be held behind closed doors.